Strategic environmental assessment in the electricity sector: an application to electricity supply planning, Saskatchewan, Canada

Abstract

A strategic environmental assessment (SEA) framework for electricity sector planning is developed and applied to evaluate electricity supply scenarios for Saskatchewan, Canada. The overall goal of the SEA application was to identify a preferred future electricity production path, demonstrate the application of a quantitative SEA process that operationalizes sustainability principles through the use of assessment criteria, and examine the methodological implications resulting from the application of a structured SEA framework. Results of the application identified a renewables-focused electricity supply preference, but with several implications for electricity sector investment and sustainability, including increased infrastructure requirements and increased cost of electricity. Results also demonstrate a practical approach to the operationalization of sustainability through the application of assessment criteria that are linked to higher level principles. The use of structure in the SEA process provided for replicability, transparency and the ability to quantify issues of uncertainty in Plan, program and policy (PPP) decision-making, while at the same time maintaining flexibility to tailor the SEA framework to the electricity sector context.

Knowledge hierarchy and mechanisms of power in environmental impact assessment: Insights from the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project

“…This finding echoes calls for more emphasis on injecting knowledge—in particular knowledge produced by strategic knowledge coalitions with epistemic authority, like the Harvard‐Nunatsiavut HHRA—early on in the EIA process (Ocampo‐Melgar et al 2019; Campero et al 2021; Enríquez‐de‐Salamanca 2021). To achieve this objective, there should be increased emphasis on strategic environmental assessment (SEA) in renewable energy development, particularly as Canada attempts to transition towards a decarbonized energy system (White and Noble 2012; Nwanekezie et al 2022). SEA is not linked to specific projects, but rather represents a more coordinated planning effort at the policy, plan, and program levels in which environmental, social, and economic considerations are brought forth earlier in the decision‐making process and can inform future project‐level assessments (Natural Resources Canada 2011).…”

Assessing the impact of strategic environmental assessment

“…Simple and pragmatic criteria and/ or indicators are required to follow-up on and evaluate the outcomes of SEA (Hacking & Guthrie 2006;White & Noble 2012); those identified by our panel of reviewers (Table 3) and by Chanchitpricha and Bond (2013) may serve as a foundation for the development of more contextspecific metrics for SEA evaluation. We acknowledge that developing such criteria and/or indicators and attributing such matters as learning or increased efficiencies in 'next level' decision-making to SEA is not a simple task; however, it is increasingly important to demonstrate the added value of SEA beyond the application of the process itself (SEPA 2011) and beyond the scope of the particular PPP at hand.…”